CN113614630B

CN113614630B - Optical element

Info

Publication number: CN113614630B
Application number: CN202080022223.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 平野智也
Original assignee: Stanley Electric Co Ltd
Current assignee: Stanley Electric Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-03-22
Filing date: 2020-03-16
Publication date: 2024-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 2040-03-16
Also published as: EP3944012A1; JP7195191B2; EP3944012A4; CN113614630A; US20220146899A1; WO2020196054A1; JP2020154249A

Abstract

The optical element of the embodiment has at least: a plurality of lower electrodes laid on the surface of the lower substrate, the lower electrodes including at least a first lower electrode portion and a second lower electrode portion which are arranged in a first direction in the surface of the lower substrate and are adjacent to each other; a plurality of upper electrodes provided on a surface of the upper substrate in a laid-down manner, the lower electrode including at least a first upper electrode portion facing the first lower electrode portion and a second upper electrode portion facing a part of the first lower electrode portion and the second lower electrode portion; and a conductive member sandwiched between the first lower electrode portion and the second upper electrode portion and electrically connecting the first lower electrode portion and the second upper electrode portion, wherein the conductive member is selectively arranged in an overlapping region where the first lower electrode portion and the second upper electrode portion overlap when projected onto a virtual plane parallel to the lower substrate or the upper substrate.

Description

Optical element

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an optical element capable of switching at least 2 optical states.

Background

An optical element capable of switching optical states is proposed.

A so-called electrodeposition element is disclosed in japanese patent application laid-open No. 2012-181389. The electrodeposition member mainly has a pair of transparent electrodes arranged opposite to each other and an electrolyte layer sandwiched by the pair of transparent electrodes, the electrolyte layer containing an electrodeposition material containing silver.

The electrolyte layer is substantially transparent, and the electrodeposited element is in a transparent state when stable (when no voltage is applied). When a voltage is applied between the pair of transparent electrodes, an electro-deposition material (silver) of the electrolyte layer is deposited and deposited on the electrodes by an electrochemical reaction (oxidation-reduction reaction). The electrodeposited material deposited on the surface of the flat electrode forms a mirror surface, and the electrodeposited element is in a mirror surface (light reflection) state.

Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2007-134143 discloses a so-called electrochemiluminescence (Electrochemical luminescence) element. Has a pair of substrates and a layer containing an electrochemiluminescent material sandwiched between transparent electrodes. Luminescence is generated by excitation and deactivation of the cationic radicals and anionic radicals generated by application of a voltage.

So-called Electrochromic (Electrochromic) elements are disclosed in japanese patent application laid-open publication 2004-170613 and japanese patent application laid-open publication 2005-521103. Has a pair of substrates and a layer containing electrochromic material sandwiched by transparent electrodes. Through the application of a voltage, the electrochromic material changes a molecular structure through an electrochemical reaction, resulting in discoloration.

Disclosure of Invention

In an optical element using an electrochemical reaction, when the element size becomes large, the optical characteristics generally fluctuate depending on the position.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an optical element having uniform optical characteristics in the element plane.

According to a main aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical element having: a lower substrate and an upper substrate disposed to face each other; a plurality of lower electrodes provided in a laid-down manner on a surface of the lower substrate facing the upper substrate, the lower electrodes including at least first and second lower electrode portions arranged in a first direction in the surface of the lower substrate and adjacent to each other; a plurality of upper electrodes laid on a surface of the upper substrate facing the lower substrate, the lower electrodes including at least a first upper electrode portion facing the first lower electrode portion and a second upper electrode portion facing a part of the first lower electrode portion and the second lower electrode portion; a conductive member sandwiched between the first lower electrode portion and the second upper electrode portion and electrically connecting the first lower electrode portion and the second upper electrode portion, the conductive member being selectively arranged in an overlapping region where the first lower electrode portion and the second upper electrode portion overlap when projected onto a virtual plane parallel to the lower substrate or the upper substrate; and an electrolyte layer filled between the lower substrate and the upper substrate.

According to the present invention, an optical element having uniform optical characteristics in the element plane can be obtained.

Drawings

Fig. 1A to 1C are a plan view and a cross-sectional view of an electrodeposition (Electro deposition) element showing a reference example.

Fig. 2A to 2C are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing an electrodeposition element of the first embodiment.

Fig. 3A to 3C are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing an electrodeposition element of the second embodiment.

Fig. 4A to 4D are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the electrodeposition device of the second embodiment.

Fig. 5A and 5B are a top view and a cross-sectional view showing an electrodeposition element of the third embodiment.

Fig. 6A is a sectional view showing an electrodeposition element of the fourth embodiment, and fig. 6B is a sectional view showing an electrodeposition element of the fifth embodiment.

Detailed Description

First, the basic structure and function of an ED element will be described with reference to an electro-deposition element (ED element) of a reference example.

Fig. 1A to 1C are a top view and a cross-sectional view showing an ED element 110 according to a reference example. The IBC-IBC section in the top view shown in fig. 1A corresponds to the section views shown in fig. 1B and 1C. The relative dimensions and positional relationships of the constituent members shown in the drawings are different from those of actual ones.

As shown in fig. 1A, the ED element 110 mainly includes lower and upper substrates 10 and 20 arranged to face each other, and an electrolyte layer (electrolyte solution) 51 and a sealing frame member 70 interposed between the lower and upper substrates 10 and 20. In the figure, the outline of the seal frame member 70 and the portion of the lower substrate 10 blocked by the upper substrate 20 are indicated by broken lines.

Further, power supply connection electrodes 12p, 22p connected to an external power supply are provided on the opposite surfaces of the lower and upper substrates 10, 20, respectively. In the figure, the outline of the power supply connection electrode 22p provided on the upper substrate 20 is also indicated by a broken line. The power supply connection electrodes 12p, 22p are provided on the outside of the sealing frame member 70 and on both sides of the electrolyte layer 51 in the lateral direction (width direction, X direction, first direction) so as to face each other. The power supply connection electrodes 12p and 22p are each elongated in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction, Y direction, second direction), for example, in a rectangular shape.

In the region where the lower and upper substrates 10, 20 overlap each other, a seal frame member 70 is provided at the periphery thereof. The space defined by the lower substrate 10, the upper substrate 20, and the sealing frame member 70 is filled with the electrolyte 51. The region surrounded by the sealing frame member 70 and filled with the electrolyte solution 51 is a switching region As capable of switching the optical state, and its dimensions are, for example, 250mm in the longitudinal direction (length) and 64mm in the transverse direction (width).

As shown in fig. 1B, the lower substrate 10 has a structure in which transparent electrodes 12 are laminated on the surface (opposite surface) of a transparent substrate 11. The upper substrate 20 has a structure in which a transparent electrode 22 is laminated on the surface (opposite surface) of a transparent substrate 21. The transparent electrodes 12, 22 are arranged in a manner facing each other.

As the transparent substrates 11 and 21, a substrate having light transmittance such as a glass substrate is used. As the transparent electrodes 12 and 22, for example, members having light transmittance and conductivity such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) and Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO) are used.

An electrode 12p connected to an external power source (for example, a positive electrode terminal or a common terminal thereof) is provided on the surface of the lower electrode 12 and outside the seal frame member 70. An electrode 22p connected to an external power source (for example, a negative electrode terminal thereof) is also provided on the surface of the upper electrode 22 and outside the seal frame member 70. The power connection electrodes 12p and 22p are made of a metal member such as silver or a conductive tape having lower resistivity (higher conductivity) than the transparent electrode such as ITO.

The seal frame member 70 is made of a resin member or the like, and is provided in a shape that is closed along the peripheral edges of the lower substrate 10 and the upper substrate 20 in the surfaces of the lower and upper substrates 10 and 20 (see fig. 1A). The gap (cell gap) between the lower substrate 10 and the upper substrate 20 is defined by the seal frame member 70 and a gap control agent (not shown). The distance between the lower substrate 10 and the upper substrate 20 is, for example, about 100 μm.

The electrolyte layer (electrolyte solution) 51 is formed by dissolving an Electrodeposition (ED) material (for example, silver) in a solvent, and fills the space defined by the lower and upper substrates 10 and 20 and the sealing frame member 70. The electrolyte layer 51 is substantially transparent, and the ED element 110 (switching region As) As a whole attains a light-transmitting state when stable (when no voltage is applied).

The ED element 110 can be manufactured as follows, for example.

As the upper and lower substrates 10, 20, soda lime glass substrates of 5Ω/≡ito were prepared. The ITO films to be the electrodes 12, 22 can be formed by sputtering, CVD (chemical vapor deposition) method, vapor deposition, or the like. In addition, the ITO film can be patterned into a desired planar shape by photolithography.

A gap controlling agent is dispersed on one of the upper and lower substrates 10, 20, for example, the lower substrate 10. By selecting the diameter of the gap controlling agent, the thickness (cell gap) of the electrolyte layer (electrolyte solution) 51 can be adjusted to a range of, for example, 1 μm to 500 μm.

One of the upper and lower substrates 10 and 20, for example, the lower substrate 10 is formed with a main seal pattern (a rectangular seal pattern with a part thereof missing) using a seal material. For example, the sealing material may be formed using a sealing material (acrylic resin material) TB3035B (viscosity 51pa·s) manufactured by using a sealing material (ThreeBond Holdings co., ltd.) of the company, specifically, a stopper.

The upper and lower substrates 10 and 20 are overlapped to produce a dummy cell. In the empty cells, for example, an electrolyte solution 51 containing an ED material is injected by a vacuum injection method, and then the injection port is sealed, and the sealing material is irradiated with ultraviolet rays to cure the sealing material. Thereby, the sealing frame member 70 and the electrolyte layer (electrolyte solution) 51 sealed inside thereof are formed.

The electrolyte 51 containing ED material is composed of ED material (AgBr etc.), mediator (CuCl ₂ Etc.), a supporting electrolyte (LiBr, etc.), a solvent (γ -butyrolactone, etc.), etc. For example, in gamma-butyrolactone as solvent, 200mM AgBr as ED material, 800mM LiBr as supporting electrolyte, 30mM CuCl as mediator are added ₂ 。

For example, silver-containing AgBr and AgNO can be used as ED materials ₃ 、AgClO ₄ Etc. Regarding mediators, other than CuCl ₂ In addition to Ta, taCl containing Ta may also be used ₅ 、TaBr ₅ 、TaI ₅ GeCl containing Ge ₄ 、GeBr ₄ 、GeI ₄ CuSO containing Cu ₄ 、CuBr ₂ Etc.

The supporting electrolyte is not limited as long as it is a substance that promotes oxidation-reduction reaction of the electrodeposited material, and for example, a lithium salt (LiCl, liBr, liI, liBF ₄ 、LiClO ₄ Etc.), potassium salt (KCl, KBr, KI etc.), sodium salt (NaCl, naBr, naI etc.). The concentration of the supporting electrolyte is preferably, for example, 10mM or more and 1M or less, but is not particularly limited.

The solvent is not limited as long as it can stably hold the electrodeposition material or the like. Water, polar solvents such as propylene carbonate, organic solvents without polarity, ionic liquids, ion conductive polymers, and polymer electrolytes can be used. Specifically, in addition to gamma-butyrolactone, DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide: dimethyl sulfoxide), propylene carbonate, N-dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, acetonitrile, polyvinylsulfuric acid, polystyrene sulfonic acid, polyacrylic acid, and the like can be suitably used.

In this way, the ED element 110 can be fabricated.

As shown in the upper stage of fig. 1C, when a negative potential (for example, -2.5V) is applied to the upper power supply connection electrode 22p (upper electrode 22) with reference to the potential of the lower power supply connection electrode 12p (lower electrode 12), an ED material (silver) in the electrolyte layer 51 is deposited and deposited on the surface of the upper electrode 22 by the redox reaction (current flows in the thickness direction in the electrolyte layer 51) on the surfaces of the electrodes 12 and 22, thereby forming a light reflecting film (silver thin film) 51d. At this time, the ED element 110 (particularly, the switching region As) realizes a light reflection state.

When the voltage application is stopped, the ED material (light reflecting film 51 d) deposited and deposited on the electrode surface is dissolved again in the electrolyte layer (electrolyte solution) 51, and disappears from the electrode surface. That is, the ED element 110 returns to a light transmissive state.

In this way, the electrolyte layer 51 can be switched to the transparent state and the ED material deposition state. Along with this, the ED element 110 (in particular, the switching region As) can be switched between a light transmitting state (when no voltage is applied) and a light reflecting state (when voltage is applied).

In the reference example, the film thickness of the light reflection film 51d deposited on the surface of the upper electrode 22 becomes uneven. Specifically, the film thickness of the light reflection film 51d is relatively thick at both ends in the width direction of the switching region As close to the power supply connection electrodes 12p, 22p, and the film thickness of the light reflection film 51d is relatively thin (or not formed) at the center in the width direction of the switching region As. Therefore, in the light reflection state, the light reflectance is relatively high at both ends of the switching region As close to the power supply connection electrodes 12p, 22p, and the light reflectance is relatively low at the center of the switching region As.

As shown in the lower stage of fig. 1C, this non-uniformity in film thickness (light reflectance) results from the distribution (fluctuation) of the current density Id in the width direction X of the current flowing between the upper and lower electrodes 12, 22 (the thickness direction of the electrolyte layer 51). The distribution (fluctuation) of the current density Id becomes more remarkable when the electrodes 12 and 22 are made of a member having a high resistivity (low conductivity) such As ITO, and the width of the switching region As (or the electrolyte layer 51) is wide (for example, 64mm or more).

When the resistivity of the electrodes 12 and 22 is high (the conductivity is low) and the width of the switching region As is wide, the current density Id of the current flowing between the electrodes 12 and 22 (in the thickness direction of the electrolyte layer 51) becomes relatively high in a region close to the current supply source and relatively low in a region distant from the current supply source. Since the deposition amount of the ED material (film thickness of the deposited film) and the current density of the current flowing in the thickness direction of the electrolyte layer have a positive correlation, the film thickness of the light reflection film 51d becomes thicker at both ends of the switching region As near the current supply source, that is, near the power supply connection electrodes 12p, 22p, and the film thickness of the light reflection film 51d becomes thinner at the center of the switching region As.

If the film thickness of the light reflection film 51d varies depending on the position, the optical characteristics (light reflectance) in the element plane also vary depending on the position. In general, it is preferable that the optical characteristics of the optical element be uniform in the element plane.

Fig. 2A to 2C are a top view and a cross-sectional view showing the ED element 101 according to the first embodiment. The sections IIB-IIB and IIC-IIC in the plan view shown in FIG. 2A correspond to the sectional views shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, respectively.

As shown in fig. 2A, the ED element 101 of the first embodiment includes, as with the ED element 110 of the reference example: lower and upper substrates 10 and 20 disposed opposite to each other; a seal frame member 70 provided at the periphery of the lower and upper substrates 10 and 20 in the region where the substrates overlap each other; and an electrolytic solution (electrolyte layer) 51 filled in the space defined by them. Power supply connection electrodes 12p, 22p are provided on the lower and upper substrates 10, 20, respectively.

The ED element 101 of the first embodiment is different from the ED element 110 of the reference example mainly in the presence or absence of the conductive member 72 and the shape of the upper and lower electrodes 12, 22.

The ED element 101 of the first embodiment has an on-member 72 that longitudinally turns off the electrolytic solution 51. The electrolyte 51 is divided into a left-side electrolyte (first electrolyte) 51L and a right-side electrolyte (second electrolyte) 51R by the conductive member 72.

The electrodes 12 and 22 constituting the upper and lower substrates 10 and 20 are also divided into left and right 2 rows (see fig. 2C). The electrolyte 51L and the upper and lower electrodes 12L and 22L disposed on the left side constitute a switching region AsL, and the electrolyte 51R and the upper and lower electrodes 12R and 22R disposed on the right side constitute a switching region AsR.

As shown in fig. 2B, the conductive member 72 is provided continuously (in the form of a partition wall) from one end side to the other end side of the seal frame member 70. The electrolyte 51 is divided into first and second electrolytes 51L, 51R by the conducting member 72 (see fig. 2A).

As shown in fig. 2C, the lower electrode 12 provided on the lower substrate 10 is divided into a left lower electrode (first lower electrode) 12L and a right lower electrode (second lower electrode) 12R. Similarly, the upper electrode 22 provided on the upper substrate 20 is divided into an upper left electrode (first upper electrode) 22L and an upper right electrode (second upper electrode) 22R. The distance between the lower left electrode 12L and the lower right electrode 12R and the distance between the upper left electrode 22L and the upper right electrode 22R are 500 μm, for example.

More specifically, the lower left electrode 12L is arranged so as to face the upper left electrode 22L, and the lower right electrode 12R is arranged so as to face the upper right electrode 22R. The region where the lower left electrode 12L and the upper left electrode 22L face each other with the left electrolyte 51L interposed therebetween constitutes a left switching region AsL, and the region where the lower right electrode 12R and the upper right electrode 22R face each other with the right electrolyte 51R interposed therebetween constitutes a right switching region AsR. The width of the switching regions AsL, asR (electrolytes 51L, 51R) is, for example, 63mm or less.

Further, the lower left electrode 12L and the upper right electrode 22R have regions partially opposed to each other. The region where the lower left electrode 12L and the upper right electrode 22R are opposed to each other is referred to as an overlap region Ao. The width of the overlap area Ao is, for example, 1000 μm.

The conductive member 72 is formed in the overlapping region Ao in a plan view or overlaps the overlapping region Ao (see fig. 2A). The conductive member 72 electrically connects the lower left electrode 12L and the upper right electrode 22R.

The conductive member 72 is formed of, for example, a resin member mixed with conductive particles. The conductive particles are formed of, for example, glass beads having a diameter of about 70 μm covered with an Ag thin film. The conductive member 72 may be formed by, for example, mixing 10wt% of glass beads (powder resistance 0.004 Ω·cm) coated with Ag film manufactured by yo corporation (eunijia corporation) with a sealing material TB3035B manufactured by docking (ThreeBond Holdings co., ltd.).

The negative potential is applied to the power supply connection electrode 22p of the upper substrate 20 with reference to the potential of the power supply connection electrode 12p of the lower substrate 10. At this time, the current flows from the lower right electrode 12R to the upper right electrode 22R via the right electrolyte 51R, and further flows from the lower left electrode 12L to the upper left electrode 22L via the left electrolyte 51L through the conductive member 72. The light reflection film 51d is formed on the surface of each of the upper electrodes 22L and 22R by the oxidation-reduction reaction occurring on the electrode surface.

The ED element 101 of the first embodiment is equivalent to an element in which a left side ED element constituted by the left lower electrode 12L, the left upper electrode 22L, and the left electrolyte 51L and a right side ED element constituted by the right lower electrode 12R, the right upper electrode 22R, and the right electrolyte 51R are electrically connected in series by the conductive member 72.

In the first embodiment, the width of each of the switching regions AsL, asR (electrolytes 51L, 51R) is narrow (for example, 63mm or less). Therefore, the current density distribution (fluctuation) in the width direction of the current flowing through the respective electrolytes 51L, 51R is small, and the film thickness of the light reflection film 51d formed on the surfaces of the upper electrodes 22L, 22R is also relatively uniform. Therefore, when the entire ED element 101 is observed (when the switching regions AsL and AsR are integrated), a change in the position of the optical characteristic (light reflectance) is suppressed (the light reflectance becomes uniform in the element plane).

The gaps between the switching regions AsL and AsR (i.e., the gaps between the lower left electrode 12L and the lower right electrode 12R, the gaps between the upper left electrode 22L and the upper right electrode 22R, and the overlapping region Ao, which is the region where the conductive member 72 is disposed) are non-controlled regions where the optical state cannot be switched. In order to make the optical characteristics uniform in the entire ED element 101, the width of the uncontrolled region is preferably made as narrow as possible. On the other hand, it is preferable that the intervals between the lower left electrode 12L and the lower right electrode 12R and between the upper left electrode 22L and the upper right electrode 22R be 5 times or more the interval (the thickness of the electrolyte layer 51) between the lower left electrode 12 and the upper right electrode 22, for example, so that no current directly flows between the lower left electrode 12L and the lower right electrode 12R and between the upper left electrode 22L and the upper right electrode 22R.

The conductive member 72 may not be formed continuously from one end side to the other end side of the seal frame member 70. By selectively providing the conductive member 72, the non-control region can be reduced.

Fig. 3A to 3C are a top view and a cross-sectional view showing the ED element 102 according to the second embodiment. The sections IIIB-IIIB and IIIC-IIIC in the top view shown in FIG. 3A correspond to the sectional views shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, respectively.

As shown in fig. 3A, in the ED element 102, the conductive member 72a is intermittently (in a broken line) formed in the overlapping region Ao. Therefore, the electrolytic solution 51 is continuous in the region where the conductive member 72a is not provided. The switching region is divided into a left switching region AsL and a right switching region AsR by the conductive member 72a. The other structure of the ED element 102 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the ED element 101 of the first embodiment.

As shown in fig. 3B, the conductive member 72a is intermittently and intermittently provided from one end side to the other end side of the seal frame member 70. The electrolytic solution 51 is not divided by the conductive member 72a, and continues in the region where the conductive member 72a is not provided (see fig. 3A).

As shown in fig. 3C, there is a region where the conductive member 72a is not provided in the overlap region Ao where the lower left electrode 12L and the upper right electrode 22R face each other. In the width direction of the ED element 102, the region where the conductive member 72a is provided has the same cross-sectional structure as the cross-section shown in fig. 2C.

In this way, by providing the conductive member 72a that electrically connects the lower left electrode 12L and the upper right electrode 22R selectively (intermittently) in the overlap region Ao, it is possible to reduce the non-control region (unobtrusive and difficult to visually recognize) in which the optical state may be different from the switching regions AsL, asR. Thereby, the appearance quality of the ED element is further improved.

The conductive member 72a may be formed so as to extend outside the overlap region Ao.

Further, since the overlap region Ao is a non-control region, it is preferable that the region other than the region where the conductive member 72a is disposed is as small as possible or does not exist. That is, it is preferable that the lower left electrode 12L and the upper left electrode 22L (overlapping in plan view) or the lower right electrode 12R and the upper right electrode 22R (overlapping in plan view) be disposed in a region other than the region in which the conductive member 72a is disposed. For example, it is preferable that the boundary between the divided upper and lower electrodes is formed in a convex-concave shape corresponding to the region where the conductive member is disposed in a plan view.

In addition, if the arrangement interval of the conductive members is too large (the conductive members are arranged sparsely), the variation in current density becomes remarkable, and there is a possibility that unevenness in optical characteristics (light reflectance) may occur in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction). In this case, for example, auxiliary electrodes having lower resistivity than the upper and lower electrodes are preferably provided between the conductive member and the upper and lower electrodes, respectively.

Fig. 4A to 4D are a top view and a cross-sectional view showing a modified example 102a of the ED element of the second embodiment. The IVB-IVB section, IVC-IVC section and IVD-IVD section in the plan view shown in FIG. 4A correspond to the sectional views shown in FIGS. 4B, 4C and 4D, respectively.

As shown in fig. 4A, in the ED element 102a, the low-resistance member 74 extending in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction) is provided in the overlap region Ao. In addition, the conductive member 72b is formed so as to be sparse (sparse) so as to overlap the low-resistance member 74. Since the uncontrolled area of ED element 102a is preferably small, the width of low resistance component 74 is preferably as thin as possible.

As shown in fig. 4B and 4C, the conductive member 72B is connected to the lower left electrode 12L and the upper right electrode 22R via the low resistance member 74. The low-resistance member 74 is formed of platinum, for example, and can be formed and patterned by a mask sputtering method, for example.

As shown in fig. 4D, the low resistance member 74 is formed relatively thin in the region where the conductive member 72b is not formed. Even when the conductive members 72b are formed so as to be thin, the current density can be made uniform in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction) by providing the low-resistance members 74, and the unevenness of the optical characteristics of the ED element can be improved.

Fig. 5A and 5B are a top view and a cross-sectional view showing the ED element 103 according to the third embodiment. The section VB-VB in the top view shown in FIG. 5A corresponds to the section view shown in FIG. 5B.

As shown in fig. 5A, in the ED element 105, the conductive member 72c is continuously formed in a partial region within the overlap region Ao. Thus, the electrolytic solution 51 is continuous in the region where the conductive member 72c is not provided. In addition, other structures of the ED element 103 of the third embodiment are the same as those of the ED element 101 of the first embodiment.

As shown in fig. 5B, the conductive member 72c is continuously formed in the central region within the overlap region Ao. The electrolytic solution 51 is not divided by the conductive member 72c, and continues in the region where the conductive member 72c is not provided (see fig. 5A).

In the width direction of the ED element 103, the region where the conductive member 72C is provided has the same cross-sectional structure as the cross-section shown in fig. 2C. The region where the conductive member 72C is not provided has the same cross-sectional structure as the cross-section shown in fig. 3C.

In this way, by selectively (continuously in a partial region) providing the conductive member 72c that electrically connects the lower-left electrode 12L and the upper-right electrode 22R in the overlap region Ao, it is possible to reduce a non-control region that may be different from the optical state of the switching regions AsL, asR. Thereby, the appearance quality of the ED element is further improved.

Fig. 6A is a cross-sectional view showing an ED element 104 of the fourth embodiment. In the ED element 104 of the fourth embodiment, electrochemical reaction layers 14L, 14R are provided on the surfaces of the lower electrodes 12L, 12R, respectively. The electrochemical reaction layer 14L is formed on the surface of the lower left electrode 12L so as to avoid the region where the conductive member 72a is provided.

In the case where the electrochemical reaction layers 14L and 14R are provided in the lower electrode 12, the mediator may not be contained in the electrolyte solution, and in the fourth embodiment, 200mM of AgBr as an ED material and 800mM of LiBr as a supporting electrolyte are added to γ -butyrolactone as a solvent in the electrolyte solution 52.

The other structure of the ED element 104 of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the ED element 103 of the third embodiment. The other structure of the ED element 104 of the fourth embodiment, particularly the planar shape of the conductive member, may be the same as that of the ED element of the first or second embodiment (see fig. 2A, 3A, and 5A).

The electrochemical reaction layers 14L, 14R may be, for example, prussian blue (iron (II) hexacyanide) acid iron (III), fe ₄ [Fe(CN) ₆ ] ₃ ) Nickel oxide. PrussianBlue is colorless and transparent in the reduced state and blue in the oxidized state. The nickel oxide was colorless and transparent in the reduced state, and brown (brown) in the oxidized state.

Prussian blue can be produced, for example, by applying a dispersion to the surface of an electrode by spin coating using a mask, and then firing the applied dispersion. The nickel oxide may be formed on the electrode by, for example, sputtering using a mask.

When Prussian blue is used for the electrochemical reaction layers 14L and 14R, when a voltage is applied in the forward direction (a negative potential is applied to the upper power supply connection electrode 22p with reference to the potential of the lower power supply connection electrode 12 p), the light reflection films 51d are formed on the surfaces of the upper electrodes 22L and 22R, and the electrochemical reaction layers 14L and 14R are colored blue. When nickel oxide is used for the electrochemical reaction layers 14L and 14R, the light reflection film 51d is formed on the surfaces of the upper electrodes 22L and 22R when a voltage is applied in the forward direction, and the electrochemical reaction layers 14L and 14R are colored brown.

At this time, the ED element 104 is recognized as a general mirror when viewed from the upper substrate 20 side. In addition, the mirror is recognized as a mirror with a color (blue or brown) when viewed from the lower substrate 10 side.

When the electrochemical reaction layers 14L and 14R are provided, the light reflection film 51d remains on the upper electrodes 22L and 22R for a long period of time (for example, 1 hour or more) even when the voltage is stopped after the voltage is applied in the forward direction (the electrochemical reaction layers 14L and 14R also remain blue or brown). When a voltage is applied in the opposite direction (positive potential is applied to the upper power supply connection electrode 22p with reference to the potential of the lower power supply connection electrode 12 p), the light reflection films 51d on the surfaces of the upper electrodes 22L and 22R disappear instantaneously, and the electrochemical reaction layers 14L and 14R are restored to transparent.

Fig. 6B is a sectional view showing the optical element 105 according to the fifth embodiment. In the optical element 105 of the fifth embodiment, the electrochemical reaction layers 14L, 14R, 24L, 24R are provided on the surfaces of the lower electrodes 12L, 12R and the surfaces of the upper electrodes 22L, 22R, respectively. The lower electrochemical reaction layers 14L and 14R are made of, for example, prussian blue, and the upper electrochemical reaction layers 24L and 24R are made of, for example, nickel oxide.

In the case where the electrochemical reaction layers 14, 24 are provided on the upper and lower electrodes 12, 22, the ED material and the mediator may not be contained in the electrolyte. In the fifth example, as the electrolyte 53, a substance obtained by adding 800mM LiCl as a supporting electrolyte to gamma-butyrolactone as a solvent was used.

The other structure of the optical element 105 of the fifth embodiment is the same as that of the ED element 103 of the third embodiment. The other structure of the optical element 105 of the fifth embodiment, particularly the shape of the conductive member, may be the same as that of the ED element of the first or second embodiment (see fig. 2A, 3A, and 5A).

When the electrochemical reaction layers 14 and 24 are provided on the upper and lower electrodes 12 and 22, the lower electrochemical reaction layers 14L and 14R (prussian blue) turn blue when a voltage is applied in the forward direction (a negative potential is applied to the upper power supply connection electrode 22p with reference to the potential of the lower power supply connection electrode 12 p). When a voltage is applied in the opposite direction (positive potential is applied to the upper power supply connection electrode 22p with reference to the potential of the lower power supply connection electrode 12 p), the upper electrochemical reaction layers 24L and 24R (nickel oxide) change color to brown.

The optical element of the fifth embodiment can be applied to, for example, a color filter or the like capable of performing color control.

The present invention has been described above with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

For example, the lower electrode and the upper electrode may be divided into 3 or more columns. That is, the split electrodes may be arranged so that 3 or more rows of split electrodes separated from each other are laid out.

The widths of the divided lower electrode and upper electrode are preferably adjusted according to the interval between the upper electrode and lower electrode (the thickness of the electrolyte layer) and the type and concentration of the material constituting the electrolyte layer so that the optical characteristics are not uneven. In addition, it is preferable that the lower electrode and the upper electrode are divided by the same width so that the electric or optical characteristics of each switching region do not fluctuate.

When the lower electrode and the upper electrode are divided into n columns, n-1 conductive members are provided. The conductive members are disposed so as to electrically connect adjacent upper divided electrodes and lower divided electrodes.

Further, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, improvements, combinations, and the like can be made.

Claims

1. An optical element, comprising:

a lower substrate and an upper substrate disposed to face each other;

a plurality of lower electrodes provided in a laid-down manner on a surface of the lower substrate facing the upper substrate, the lower electrodes including at least first and second lower electrode portions arranged in a first direction in the surface of the lower substrate and adjacent to each other;

a plurality of upper electrodes provided in a laid-down manner on a surface of the upper substrate facing the lower substrate, the upper electrodes including at least a first upper electrode portion facing the first lower electrode portion and a second upper electrode portion facing a part of the first lower electrode portion and the second lower electrode portion;

a conductive member sandwiched between the first lower electrode portion and the second upper electrode portion and electrically connecting the first lower electrode portion and the second upper electrode portion, the conductive member being selectively arranged in an overlapping region where the first lower electrode portion and the second upper electrode portion overlap when projected onto a virtual plane parallel to the lower substrate or the upper substrate;

an electrolyte layer filled between the lower substrate and the upper substrate; and

and a low-resistance member which is disposed between the first lower electrode portion and the conductive member and between the second upper electrode portion and the conductive member, and which has a lower resistivity than the first lower electrode and the second upper electrode, wherein the low-resistance member is provided so as to extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction in an overlapping region where the first lower electrode portion and the second upper electrode portion overlap, and a position where the conductive member is not formed is formed to be thinner than a position where the conductive member is formed.

2. The optical element of claim 1, wherein,

the optical element further has a first electrochemical layer formed on a surface of the lower electrode, and an optical state is changed according to whether it is in an oxidized state or a reduced state.

3. The optical element of claim 2, wherein,

the optical element further has a second electrochemical layer formed on a surface of the upper electrode, and an optical state is changed according to whether it is in an oxidized state or a reduced state.